- I want to..
- See a Circus
- Book a Circus Performer
- Learn Circus Related Skills
- Professional Development
- Accredited Training
- Community Training
- Current Workshops
- Youth Circus Workshop Database
- Youth Circus
- Buy or Rent Circus Equipment
- Research..
- Get Work
- Advice for Practitioners
- About Circus
- News and Reviews
- Directory
- Message Board
Professional Development
The traditional road to success
For much of its history, circus in England has relied on the continuity of the family-run circuses to provide training and professional opportunities for would-be circus performers, who usually start to learn at a very young age. This is still the way it works for many circuses throughout the world - although increasingly there are other avenues open for professional training.
If you are 18+ and want to train to be a circus performer in the traditional way - on the road - then one option is to contact
The Academy of Circus Arts
which began as an off-shoot of Zippo's Circus.
www.zipposcircus.com
Founded in 1992, they are currently the only touring circus school in Europe. All aspects of life under The Big Top are learnt over six months spent in a travelling circus classroom, working alongside professional performers.
Auditions take place in April and October
contact Nick Barltrop on 07050 28 26 24
email contactzippos@yahoo.com
Alternatively, you can contact NoFit State Circus who run a circus apprenticeship scheme for Welsh-based performers and recent graduates. Apprentices train and perform with the company and gain touring experience. For more information email ali@nofitstate.com or see below
The Generating Company
The Generating Company is UK's biggest Circus employer. Based in East London the company performs around the world. In 2006 over 1 million people watched a Generating Company show live. In 2007 the Company has performed in South Africa, India, Colombia, Japan, Germany, France, Singapore and has toured nationally. Generating Company ex employees and students are now performing in Las Vegas, Japan, Canada and USA
G-2
Professional Circus Research Program
the generating company is offering a 6 day workshop for professional practitioners in circus and dance, to focus on technique, research and devising processes within the circus arts. International artists will guide you in a 2 part program that will challenge your practice and improve, explore and produce new material.
Researching the 3-dimentional performance space
French company La Linea focuses on research through the execution of transient architecture, design and live performance >/p>
3x day workshop (Mon 28th — Wed 30th April)
Devising performance through the inner & outer production
We have invited a selection of professional practitioners to lead this course focusing on Choreographic exploration of technique and equipment, Devising performance, Deconstructing known movements to create new material, Pushing ones own practice and Understanding the tools (body & equipment)
3 x day workshop (Thurs 1st - Sat 3rd May)
Applications by CV only.
12 places only
Price: £360 inclusive of VAT
ALL CLASSES ARE HELD AT
The Generating Company,
The Boiler Works,
Trinity Buoy Wharf,
64 Orchard Place,
London, E14 0JW.
Contact Chris or Claire
Website www.generatingcompany.co.uk/
Email admin@generatingcompany.co.uk
TO SECURE A PLACE
Telephone 0)20 7093 3204
GKIDS: SUMMER SCHOOL FOR KIDS - JULY 2008 - DATES TBC
Circus Maniacs School of Circus Arts
Circus Maniacs is a small independent training school which specialises in offering high-level training in Circus, Acrobatic & Aerial Techniques; Professional Mentoring; and support with Product Creation. The emphasis is on supporting each Artistes' unique development, as an individual. The professional full-time training program is flexible in duration and personally tailored.
It is a fast-track opportunity for performers to achieve a good standard of physical performance skills precisely relevent to the acts or shows they are hoping to create.
For further information Tel: +44 (0)117 - 9477042
email info@circusmaniacs.com
www.circusmaniacs.com
CIRCUS EXCHANGE OPPORTUNITY:
Do have experience or want to learn about Youth circus, Arts Management/ administration, arts funding or project delivery?
Do you want to receive or continue professional training in Circus Arts?
Circus Maniacs are looking for approximately two volunteers to help with the school in return for professional training. Volunteers must be educated to A' Level standard, have some knowledge of the circus/arts industry and be able to commit to a minimum of 6 months. A program will be tailored to each individual to benefit both the volunteer and the school. In return for approx 16 - 20 hours office / teaching support per week.
The volunteer will receive free physical skills training each day and access to space for practise.
- Key Skills offered (specialist teaching: beginners to high level):
- Aerial Techniques: Trapeze, Tissu, Corde Lisse, Web, Ring, Straps.
- General Acrobatics: Tumbling, Trampette, Hand-balancing, Acro-balance.
- Chinese Acrobatics: Chinese Pole, Chinese Straps, Hoop Diving, Lion Dance.
- Tight-wire.
Plus a range of other useful Circus Skills at a more basic level.
The volunteer should have good organizational skills for project management, and a genuine interest in developing skills in management or project delivery. This is a rolling program and we will consider new applicants every three months. For more information about the school please visit www.circusmaniacs.com
Please apply with a CV and covering letter to: jackie@circusmaniacs.com
Skylight Circus Arts
Offers a number of different possibilities for professional training, from classes and short courses in many different circus skills, including aerial work, to long-term training and work experience in circus as a community art.
CIRCUS APPRENTICESHIPS AT SKYLIGHT CIRCUS ARTS, ROCHDALE
Our apprenticeship programme is a career development programme for artists, creative practitioners and those working in social or educational settings.
Circus Apprenticeships aim to provide participants with practical circus skills, an understanding of general good practice and other professional skills necessary for working in a variety of community and educational settings.
Ideal for those aiming to improve their career prospects or looking for a new direction.
Please call for further information on how to apply, costs and all related information.
Skylight Circus Arts OL16 1HE
01706 650 676
lindzi@skylight-circus-arts.org.uk
www.skylight-circus-arts.org.uk
Greentop Circus School
Community circus offering workshops, entertainment, team building and circus training. Courses include Circus in Performance OCN Accredited Level 3 In this intensive 12 week foundation course professional performers will teach manipulation, clowning and dance, equilibristics, aerial and acrobatics. In addition students will be taught First Aid, Health & Safety, Child Protection and what it takes to be self employed in the business! Students will have an opportunity to specialise in the skills that interest them most in the last half of the course.
If you would like more information please call Greentop Circus
on 0114 2448828
or email: information@greentop.org
See the website for more info: www.greentop.org
Greentop Circus Centre,
Saint Thomas Building,
74 Holywell Road,
Sheffield, S4 8AS
NB:Following three very successful and popular taster sessions, Greentop are starting up a weekly Performers' Group.
It will take place at Greentop every Wednesday between 4 & 6.30pm, and will cost £4 (members & concessions) and £5.
The sessions will be led by Phil Coggins from the Babbling Vagabonds and will contain a mix of games, exercises and performance, looking at performance skills such as:
- Character work
- Status
- Improvisation
- Story telling
- Vocal work
This is a great chance to learn new skills, develop existing skills, broaden understanding of the language of performance and learn from one another through a mix of exercises and games, improvisation, and performance. The group is for anyone who wants to strengthen and develop their performance skills, learn new tricks and techniques, and play.
If you are interested, just turn up on the day.
T • 0114 244 8828
M • 07984 171 335
E • tim@greentop.org
W • www.greentop.org
The Circus Project
The Circus Project is a Brighton-based circus arts organisation that provides classes in aerial arts for all abilities/ages and offers Circus Arts Awards for young people. We also run Brighton & Hove Youth Circus, made up of highly-skilled young circus performers aged 10-16.
The Circus Project produces innovative circus/theatre, performed by professional aerialists, dancers and actors, and provides professional development opportunities.
website: www.thecircusproject.co.uk
email: thecircusproject@ntlworld.com
The Circus Space
Housed in a converted power station in central London, The Circus Space is one of Europe's largest centres for contemporary circus arts. They provide professional development opportunities for circus performers. They have allocated professional training time, run classes in most circus skills. For more information on the Circus Space professional development programme
email louise@thecircusspace.co.uk
www.thecircusspace.co.uk
All of the above organisations also offer space for professional practitioners to book for practice/rehearsal.
Arts Venues
Some Arts Venues offer circus classes, workshops and summer schools of interest to professional or aspiring professional performers including:
Playbox Theatre at The Dream Factory, Warwick
Circus arts are integrated into a full theatre training programme. The Playbox also offers an 'A' Level that includes circus skills and hosts projects that integrate training with performance opportunities. Contact Stewart McGill. www.playboxtheatre.com
Community Circuses
There are professional training courses/classes, practice space and other opportunities offered by a number of Community Circus Schools/ Companies
Schools for Fools - Mime, Physical Theatre and Clowning
If you want to train to be a clown, there is the option of contacting any of the circus schools or training centres mentioned above.
Why Not Institute
You can learn "How to be a Stupid" at De Castro's clown emporium in West London.
email whynotinstitute@aol.com
or Tel 020 8987 6661.
There are also a number of courses offered in mime/theatre clown at the following schools that may be of interest to would-be-fools.
Desmond Jones School of Mime and Physical Theatre London W 4
Tel 020 8747 3537
www.desmondjones.co.uk
Ecole de Mime Corporeal London N17
Tel 020 7272 8627
email infoschool@angefou.co.uk
www.angefou.co.uk
Ecole Phillipe Gaulier
Administrateur: Michiko Miyazaki
7 rue de Bouray Janville-sur-Juine 91510 France
Tel : 01 60 82 09 74/ 08 70 27 84 69/ Fax : 01 60 82 09 74/Mob : 06 76 66 40 12
email Philgaulier@aol.com or Miyazakio@aol.com
www.ecolephilippegaulier.com/
The School of Physical Theatre, London E3
Tel 020 8215 3482
email
school@physicaltheatre.co.uk
www.physicaltheatre.com
Workshops and Residencies
Another option is the various occasional residencies and professional development programmes organised to help improve skills and open up new possibilities.
CircElation
Organised by arts management company Bhathena-Jancovitch, CircElation is an on-going training project that aims to bring together practitioners to explore the relationship between circus and theatre. It is intended that future stages of the project will take place in other places in the UK.
email info@bhathena-jancovich.co.uk
www.bhathena-jancovich.co.uk
Carnival Caravan
An ongoing street arts training project in the South East hosted by Bodily Functions Forum for mime/physical theatre that includes.residencies and workshops in circus skills, clowning and physical theatre.
email aureliusarts@excite.com
Zap Productions
Run masterclasses in street theatre and circus skills as part of the National Street Arts Festival.
Contact Pat Butler
Tel 01273 821588
email office@zapuk.co.uk
'Aerial Training Session' in Liverpool
For corde lisse (rope), trapeze, silks, hoop or harness work. This training and skill sharing session on Sunday afternoon from 3pm in Everton (close to Liverpool City Centre) is open to anybody with experience of aerial skills and an ability to train independently. Cost between £3-5 (to cover hire of the space) Please contact Gisele on 0792 -2478 - 002 if you are interested and require any further information. Please note - these are not taught session for beginners or improvers but training sessions for those with experience who want to develop their skills.
Alternatives - other training possibilities
Universities and Colleges of Higher and Further Education
The only degree in Circus offered is The Circus Space/ Central School of Speech and Drama course (listed above) but there are a number of higher-level and degree courses that offer course content of possible interest to would-be circus performers.
Many Theatre Arts/Performance courses include work in mime, clown, acrobatics and physical theatre.
Northbrook College Brighton
has a HND in Physical Theatre
Tel 01903 606060
Bretton Hall College
in Yorkshire offers a Theatre Arts degree course that includes mime and physical dance theatre.
Tel 01924 830261
Coventry University
offers a degree in Performing Arts - physical theatre.
Tel 01203 418868
These are just a few examples - check the database (further/higher education) or look up prospectuses at your local library.
Dance, Gymnastics and Acrobatics
There are also courses in Dance that could provide a good foundation for circus performance.
To find out about Contemporary Dance training contact:
The Laban Centre
Dance UK
For local classes contact:
The Foundation for Community Dance
email Info@communitydance.org.uk
For details of your nearest Gymnastics Club contact:
The British Gymnastics Association
Nothing to suit so far?
Search our database to find other possibilities (for example - try organisations:circus schools or individual teachers)
To just advertise here in Learn Circus Skills Zone
please contact
info@circusarts.org.uk